IJSR - International Journal of Scientific Research

Musbau; S.; Yusha'u; M.

Volume : VII, Issue : VI, June - 2018

MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE NGURU YOBE STATE

Musbau, S. , Yusha U, M.

Abstract :

Mental health problems such as depression and anxiety are very common during pregnancy and after childbirth in all parts of the world. One in three to one in five women in developing countries, and about one in ten in developed countries, have a significant mental health problem during pregnancy and after childbirth. Mental health problems are often undiagnosed, because many of its core symptoms such as fatigue and poor sleep are also commonly associated with motherhood itself and/or part of the gender stereotype of what motherhood should include. The study was carried out among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at FMC Nguru Yobe State between the months of June 2016 to December 2016. A survey questionnaire was developed from existing scales for measuring domestic violence against pregnant women and psychosocial risk factors to collect qualitative data. Other information were gathered from focus group discussion (FGDs) for pregnant women during (ANC) and records of mental health issues related to pregnant women available at FMC. A demographic, physical, emotional and economic violence were all accessed. Out of the 600 participants the result obtained shows that; 93.3% are exposed to one or more physical violence during pregnancy and 81.0% experience economic violence from their husbands/ husband relatives. However, 68.0% are physically abused following their response to emotional violence from their husbands/ husband relatives. In conclusion, in other to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, mental health assessment should be included in the ANC services.